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Together: A Totally Unbiased NBA Finals Preview

A little bit of a crash course in being a Cleveland sports fan above. I remember Game 7 of the 1997 World Series, watching it at home with my parents, being crushed that my team didn’t win a game they should have. Little did I know, that was only a tip of the proverbial iceberg in becoming a Cleveland sports fan.

2002, when the Browns blew a big lead in the playoffs against the Steelers.

The 2007 playoff series against the Red Sox, where the Indians put on one of the biggest choke jobs in MLB history.

The Decision.

All these events, along with the many before, shape and mold who we are as sports fans today. We’re no stranger to being considered down-and-out before anything even starts. We’re Cleveland, the city that hasn’t won a major sports championship since 1964, the city that had been to 2 world series in 3 years and came so close to winning we could taste it. Nope! Losers. The Mistake on the Lake.

This year may be no different. This year, might be just another one of those years where we simply couldn’t put it together at the end. Only time will tell that, and that’s why they play the games they do starting on Thursday at 9pm in Oakland.

But, in the “All In” sentiment, there is no turning back. There is no more “this is a process, we need to be patient.” The time is now. This is our chance to remove ourselves from the half-century of inept owners, GM’s, and coaches. 4 wins, and not only the Cavaliers, but Cleveland as a city, will be champions. 4 more wins.

And it all starts with Lebron.

Steph Curry is a superstar. The baby-faced assassin with the adorable daughter and cold-blooded jumper. Klay Thompson, Andrew Bogut, Draymond Green, and the rest of the Warriors will be the Cavs greatest test. Just like everyone else on the roster, though, this will be Lebron’s as well. We can talk about how Kyrie’s health will be a defining factor, Kevin’s injury being a difference maker, everything. We can talk about rookie head coaches, chemistry, and every factor that could possibly go into a Cavs defeat. All valid concerns, but what the analysts and talking heads of sports media seem to forget is this: Betting against Lebron James in the NBA finals is a very risky wager.

When he went to Miami 4 years ago, the team was in place with several superstars and formidable role players who got them to the Finals. Although they lost, they still won 2 of the next 3, and etched their place in NBA history. Lebron coming home was a popular yet controversial decision that painted Cleveland fans as hypocritical and fairweather because of the jersey burning, the hateful words, the booing, etc. etc.